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Soros gives $100K to Gillum's political committee

George Soros, the billionaire hedge-fund manager and big donor to liberal causes, helped Mayor Andrew Gillum's campaign for governor get its biggest campaign haul in months.

Gillum announced last week he raised more than $250,000 in December — his single best showing since April, when he raised a comparable amount.

His campaign touted December's numbers, saying in a news release he was building on "grassroots momentum." However, about half the money came from big checks from Soros and an organization called Collective Future.

Soros cut Gillum's political committee, Forward Florida, a $100,000 check on Dec. 29, according to the PC's website. The Washington, D.C.-based Collective Future gave $20,000 to Forward Florida on Dec. 4 and another $11,000 on Dec. 27. The organization is affiliated with The Collective PAC, which supports progressive black candidates.

All told, Soros and his family have given a quarter of a million dollars to Gillum's campaign. He and his son Alex Soros gave a combined $150,000 to the political committee on March 31.

Gillum's campaign spokesman, Geoff Burgan, responded to a question about the recent donation by saying "supporters all across this state have powered us since Day One."

"George Soros has dedicated his philanthropic efforts to empowering grassroots communities to make their voices heard in our country, and we’re pleased to embody those same voices through our candidacy," he said.

Soros' Open Society Institute has given heavily to the People for the American Way, an organization founded by Hollywood producer Norman Lear, himself a Gillum donor. Gillum worked for years as director of youth leadership for the People for the American Way Foundation.

Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or follow @JeffBurlew on Twitter.